Ministers must get a grip of broken benefits system, Reeves insists March 15, 2025 Rachel Reeves has doubled down on the need to reform the welfare system, insisting the government must “get a grip” on it amid concerns from Labour MPs about the impact of expected cuts to the budget. The benefits system is “broken” and is “not working for anyone”, the Chancellor said. Backbench Labour MPs have made [...]
Grangemouth: Green projects at oil refinery site could cost £13bn March 12, 2025 Plans for new green projects at the Grangemouth oil refinery site in Scotland could reportedly cost up to £13bn. A feasibility study of possible options for the site – dubbed Project Willow – has listed nine opportunities including recycling plastics and producing biomethane, to create a “flourishing low carbon hub” over the next two decades, [...]
Brewdog: James Watt’s brewer names second CEO in a year March 10, 2025 Brewdog has appointed a new chief executive for the second time in the space of a year following the departure of James Arrow for “personal reasons”. Arrow has been succeeded at the Scotland-based brewer by chief financial officer, James Taylor. Lauren Carrol has taken on the role of chief operating officer, Brewdog also confirmed. The [...]
Arla Foods to cut jobs despite £90m investment plans February 24, 2025 Arla Foods, the dairy giant behind brands such as Lurpak and Cravendale, is to close one of its UK sites with the loss of up to 128 jobs. However, the co-operative also confirmed plans to invest almost £90m into its Lockerbie site in Scotland. The news comes after City AM reported last week that Arla [...]
Does Scotland actually want to ban cats? February 3, 2025 An SNP report about cat ownership has produced a flurry of headlines over an approaching “cat ban” in Scotland. But is it true?
Orbex: Rocket-maker secures £20m investment from UK government ahead of take off January 29, 2025 The UK government has invested £20m in rocket-maker Orbex as it prepares to build and launch from its site in the Shetland Islands. The injection of funding is expected to help back Orbex’s Prime, the first UK-manufactured and UK-launched orbital rocket. Prime is scheduled to take off towards the end of this year at the [...]
UK braced for heavy snow and freezing rain amid amber weather warnings January 4, 2025 Large parts of the UK will be hit by heavy snow and freezing rain which could lead to disruption this weekend amid two amber weather warnings. Stranded vehicles on the roads, delayed or cancelled rail and air travel and power cuts are likely as the country grapples with a week-long spell of wintry conditions, the [...]
Political deaths in 2024: The well-known names we lost in the last year December 30, 2024 Whether a former deputy Prime Minister infamous for throwing a punch, to a Scottish independence campaigner and former First Minister, 2024 saw the deaths of several political heavyweights. As the year draws to a close, we look back at the lives of some well-known Westminster names who have died over the past 12 months. Derek [...]
Shops being ‘thwacked by colossal’ employment costs December 18, 2024 Business rates rises totalling £7.6m are being faced by shops in Scotland when the new tax year starts, according to new figures. A total of 4,520 shops liable for the intermediate and higher property rates will experience an increase in their rates bills, according to information obtained by Conservative MSP Craig Hoy and published by [...]
It’s time for England to stop subsidising Scotland and Wales December 4, 2024 The devolved nations are living on another planet economically because England essentially pays for their deficits. This has to stop, says Paul Ormerod Every single pensioner will continue to receive payments towards their winter fuel. This is not some fantasy world in which the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has abandoned one of her flagship policies. It [...]